Here it is - the long awaited debut of Shinigami! Thank you to all who replyed so far - and thank you to Blue Lemming who helpfully pointed out my mistake regarding Quatre's knowledge of his own history. I wasn't aware of WHEN Quatre learned he was the only natural born Winner and that his sister's are all test-tube babies...this little mix-up can be rectified though - let's chalk it up to inexperience on the part of a GW newbie, rate this as a TWT (Timeline? What Timeline?), flash a super-enlarged copy of my very own creative license and issue apologies to anyone foaming at the mouth at me for mangling Quatre's family history. Sorry guys!
Title: Into The Heart Of Darkness
Part: 4C
Author: Stormy
Warning: Angst, some OOC
Pairings: none mentioned
Archive: Jackies page (addy's in the sig), Candy's page and Kitsune's place
- thanks guys! Anyone else - just ask!
Another new appearance! Get crackin' and start readin'!!
(That night)
Shinigami crouched, motionless on the ledge of the office building. His heart was pounding with excitement even though his face didn't reveal any emotion. He felt the thrill of the hunt singing through his veins, his senses keyed up and focused on his target. he knew that Forearm and Harpoon were around somewhere - on the rooftop most likely. They were too large to shimmy up the side of a building and perch on the foot wide ledge that circled the building on each floor. He snorted silently at the thought of them trying to do the balancing act he was pulling off right now - it almost made him wish Fatale had made good on her threat to teleport him fifty feet in the air and let him drop when he'd tried to cop a quick feel off the Asian assassian.
It was weird. Shinigami felt a surge of uneasiness everytime he was around his two 'partners' - and suffice it to say, Sinister scared the shit out of him. But the fighting, the training...that had been familiar. And so was this.
He couldn't help it - he broke out into a grin as he licked his lips in anticipation. The night was calling to him, drawing him out. It didn't matter who his target was - all that mattered was that he had a job to do. Something to focus on, to carry out. A purpose. HIS purpose.
Reaching over his shoulder to the harness on his back, he pulled out his scythe, running his fingers over the metal grip lovingly. Holding this weapon in his hands, focussing on what he had to do, drowned out any other concerns he might have had. This felt RIGHT.
Tapping the button lightly, a faint greenish glow drifted out of the end; not enough to draw any undue attention, but enough to literally melt away the glass, separating himself from his targets apartment living room. He didn't hear anything from Harpoon and Forearm - nor did he really expect too. He had the feeling that this was a test for him - designed by Sinister and carried out by his two goons.
He wasn't sure why he wasn't very afraid of them. Both three times his size, in both height and bulk, with mutant powers far beyond his comprehension, he knew he should be shaking in his shoes each time they came near him, each time they sparred with him. Sinister had told him that he was an advanced human - lacking the mutant gene, but making up for it with increased speed, strength, flexibility and agility. Adding in the scythe made him a formidable opponent, even against mutants. Still, the rational part of his mind was arguing that he should be afraid. But he wasn't. Not a bit. The thought of dying didn't faze him. He wondered why that was.
He shook his head - too many thoughts to worry about now. Slipping in through the now-melted window, Shinigami turned off his scythe and slipped it back into the leather harness, making sure not to accidently cut off his braid. That was another thing to think about - he'd gotten awfully possessive about the darn thing. _Later_, he told himself.
Slinking through the main room of the modest brownstone apartment, he coldly noted the family pictures on the mantal of the fake fireplace, and the certificates lining the walls. His target was educated. A pity.
The light blinked on the communicator he'd been given and he growled softly, pushing the button.
" What?" he whispered harshly. " I'm kinda busy."
" You're taking too long," Harpoon said bluntly. " Just do it and get it over with. Now."
The picture went dark and Shinigami stuck his tongue out at the blank screen. _Spoilsport. No finesse, no style at all_. With a shrug, he strolled into the master bedroom.
Ah. There was his goal.
Crossing the room swiftly, he slammed his hands over the woman's throat and mouth, cutting off any sounds she might have made and waking her instantly.
Brown eyes blinked wildly at him, unable to make any noise from the grip he had on her voicebox.
" Dr. Cecilia Reese, I presume?" he asked coldly. The target's eyes were filled with terror - Shinigami knew the darkness of the room combined with his black clothing and black cap made it difficult for her to see him. It should have unnerved him to be attacking a woman. Looking into her eyes, her fear only amused him. " Allow me to introduce myself - I am Shinigami."
His eyes glowed dangerously. " And you have something I want."
Cecilia didn't know what to do. One minute she'd been sound asleep, exhausted from pulling a twelve-hour shift at the Salem medical center - not unusual, but definitely hard to get used to. The next thing she knew, a stranger dressed in black had a death grip on her throat. Normally her mutant power of constructing a bio-psionic shield would have kicked in automatically but she didn't even have time to think about it. If she put it up now, it would merely include her attacker inside. [1]
Her first instinct was to panic as he leaned in closer, whispering in chilled tones that she had something he wanted. What could he possibly want from her?
A voice in the back of her head told her probably many things. Judging from the black leather costume she could feel against her skin, he was probably not your run-of-the-mill robber.
During her short stint as a member of the X-Men, she had run into many different super-villains and she wondered if this person was working for one of them. She wanted to ask him what he wanted but he wouldn't let go of her throat. His grip was also making it hard for her to breathe. Her attacker seemed amused by this and chuckled harshly.
" I am going to let go of your throat so that you can breathe. If you scream, I will crush your windpipe and let you choke to death," he said, almost conversationally. " Do you understand?"
She nodded her head minutely and his hands slid off her.
" What do you want?" she finally croaked. It occured to her that since the X-Men frequently used her medical center as a drop-off center for various packages, this person might want the address of the X-mansion. _not that its a big secret_, she thought bitterly. Or maybe he wanted the medical files she had on all the mutants she treated.
She inhaled a few quick breaths, never taking her eyes off him. Suddenly her body began to glow slightly as her mutant shield kicked up. She then grinned at him.
" Hah! Try to hurt me now, sucker!" She backed away from him, intent on reaching the phone to call for help when the man sighed in annoyance and pulled a long metal stick from his back. She watched it light up in green fire and he spun suddenly, so quick she almost didn't see it, slicing the air and melting the phone, the lamp next to it and the table on which they both stood. About to scream again, he reached forwards and grabbed her chocolate brown hair, numerous little braids each incased seperately in it's own little field. He grabbed one braid, shield and all, and lowered the flame on the scythe until it looked like a green match tip. He then sliced through her hair.
Cecilia felt an enormous surge of pain as her shield was cut. Her mutant power was an extension of herself that tended to manifest involuntarily and it always hurt when anything impacted against it, even if it protected her from any actual damage. But to cut through it....
She sank to her knees, clutching her head as her attacker dangled the pitiful little strand of hair in front of her.
" Nice little trick, neh? My boss added a few tricks into this thermal scythe - it has an effect on energy. Any energy. Including bio-energy." His grin grew wider, even more malicious then before. " I could have done that to your arm or leg, just so you know. But you're worth more to Sinister alive."
_Sinister_? The name snapped Cecilia out of her pain-induced haze and she stared up at him blindly. The man chuckled again and she wished she could see his face but the darkness kept her from seeing anything more then an outline.
" Who are you?" she whispered brokenly.
" I am Shinigami," he said coldly. A manical-edged laugh issued from him. " And you're not. Now Dr. Reese - you are going to keep that little shield of yours down while I take a few things from you. " At her horrified gaze, he barked out a laugh. " Oh, give me a break - I'm not interested in your body."
Cecilia felt a bit of her normally fiery temper return as he said those words. He sounded sincere enough - well, as sincere as any leather-clad looney carrying a thermal device could be. Then again, for a short time, she had BEEN one of those leather-clad looney.s 'Why not', was at the edge of her tongue when he gave his frank statement but she forced it back. _Keep your mouth shut Cecilia_, she told herself. " Then what do you want?" she asked him, proud to hear the trembling in her voice had gone.
" I vant your blood!" he giggled in a bad attempt at a Transylvanian accent and Cecilia shivered at the hysterical pitch in her accoster's voice. Then the name from before hit her. Sinister. _Oh my god_.
" My blood? Sinister wants my blood?" She backed away slowly, fear returning in waves. " Oh no. I am not a pincushion--"
A quick swipe and her bed was neatly sliced in two. The maniac laughter was gone and that metal rod was at her throat. She froze, fighting to keep her shield from manifesting. He might actually go through a few limbs to make a point.
" It will only take a minute of your time," he said, smiling beneignly. He whipped out needle and a small vial. Cecilia closed her eyes, hoping that the damn thing was sanitary. A pin-prick made her flinch, and a few seconds later, she felt it withdraw and she opened her eyes warily.
" That's it?" she asked incredulously. The man looked at her and grinned.
" Not quite."
Cecilia never saw the adamantium rod of the scythe impact in the side of her head.
Shinigami watched her where she lay, blood seeping from the wound he'd delivered, pooling beneath her unconscious body. He calmly put the vial into a pouch at his waist and turned away. The target had been dealt with, as per instructions. He felt a faint twinge at the state he'd left her in but then pushed it away. After all - he was Shingami right? And Harpoon said he was used to this.
_Mission accomplished_.
He froze as his mind registered the words - where had that come from? Then the light blinked on his communicator again. He ignored it, stealing back out of the apartment with all the stealth he'd used upon entry, climbing from the ledge, up the side of the building, digging his fingers into the miniscule handholds he could find in the rough brick, and finally hoisting himself over the rooftop iron fencing. A huge hand gripped his collar and hauled him the rest of the way.
" What took you so long?" Forearm snarled at him. Shinigami pushed him away and reached into the pouch, pulling out the vial.
" I got it, didn't I?" he asked sarcastically, not backing down. He knew if he did, Forearm would clobber him. Badly. Forearm snorted.
" Lucky you did, punk," he growled. Harpoon spoke up from where he leaned against the wall of the building that lead to the stairway.
" Did you leave her alive?" he asked, eyes pinning the boy in his spot. " You were not to kill her - she's important as a research tool to Sinister."
" Hey man - if there's one thing I know how to do, it's follow orders," Shingami barked. " She's alive. Hurt, but alive."
Harpoon nodded, flexing his giant fist. " Good."
He pressed a button on his own communicator and suddenly, Fatale was there, light glowing in it's usual display of her powers.
" Let's be off, 'gentlemen'," she said, stressing the last word sarcastically. She watchd them gather near, eyeing the smallest one thoughtfully. He was an interesting creature, she mused. Highly attractive, and apparently very skilled. Sinister wouldn't be eager to let this little one get away. She raised her arms and focused. They disappeared in a blinding flash of light and sparkles.
Cecilia groggily lifted her head and groaned.
_G-Get it....together girl_, she told herself, fighting the black spots that were dancing in front of her eyes. She wanted nothing more then to sink into the black oblivion, hovering just beyond the edge of her vision, but she knew she couldn't. She tried to focus her bleary eyes on her dresser. _Have to....do this...._
She dragged her resisting body to the wooden dressor, grasping at the handles to pull herself up to a sitting position. She swayed momentarily, breath rasping, and then bit her lip, reaching for the top drawer. It slid out and she patted her arm around it's innards blindly, searching for it....where....Ah! There it was.
She pulled out the small object and cradled it. One of the few things she kept from her stint as an X-man, she was now ferverently glad she did. She pressed the top button on her communicator. A familiar, fuzzy blue face finally greeted her, blinking at her curiously and then in horror.
" CECILIA?"
" H-help me Hank," she breathed, and then her strength left her in a rush. She vaguely heard Dr. McCoy shout something but she was too tired to listen as her awareness slipped away.
Heero sat up as he heard the alarm go off in the mansion. A quick check confirmed the presence of his gun and he slid out of bed, pulling on his tanktop and customary spandex shorts in seonds. Exiting his room, he saw Trowa, Quatre and Wufei having the same idea. Wolverine loped into the hallway. Seeing the boys there, he was about to order them back to their room when Jean's mental voice stopped him.
:: Let them come, Logan::
He growled. :: The kid?::
A mental sigh. Then resignation. :: Yes::
Logan cursed under his breath and turned back to the four pilots who were all watching him with looks that screamed both confusion and seriousness.
" What's happening?" Heero demanded. Logan jerked his thumb back down the hall.
" Situation," was all he'd tell them " Follow me."
Quatre was a bit surprised when Logan didn't stop the elevator at the floor where he knew the War Room was situated. He could sense the tension level and he rubbed his chest absently. Trowa glanced at him and he shrugged. Fixing his eyes on Heero, Quatre winced - he had a feeling this little emergency might concern Duo.
Wufei stared at the wall, wishing it would hurry. He was still on edge from meeting that Meiran look-alike in the hangar earlier - he winced at the memory of him mumbling some excuse for mistaking her for someone else and then dashing out of the hangar, the girl's amused laugh trailing behind. [2] _Onna's_! he thought waspishly. Unbidden, the thought entered his mind that Duo would have gotten a kick out his surprise and he scowled at the wall blackly. _I bet this concerns Maxwell_, he thought.
The door opened and the pilots blinked at the sheer size of the room.
" Why is it each time we go down another level, the rooms seem to get bigger?" Quatre asked Trowa quietly. The unibanged boy shrugged. Quatre noticed Jean and Cyclops, and recognized the blue-furred man as the Beast. Wufei's eyes widened as he saw the girl - Jubilee, he tried to remember - leaning against the counter, watching them enter with interest. Despite the apparent severity of the situation, she threw him a quick wink when their eyes met and he looked away. Heero's eyes zeroed in on the group gathered in the middle of the room, focused on someone lying on a cot.
_Duo_?
Heero pushed his way past Cyclops and Jean to get a good look - and stopped, disappointment seizing his chest. It was a woman, apparently of central-American descent with chocolate skin and hair. A white bandage covered a wound on her head. Jean's voice spoke up.
" Her name is Dr. Cecilia Reese," she said. " She was...attacked tonight."
" By who?" Quatre asked, watching the girl curiously. Jean exchanged a look with her husband.
When Hank had gotten the call from Cecilia, he had alerted the red-head immediately before racing out to the hangar and firing up the Blackbird. Jean had monitered the whole pickup, Beast having assured her that whoever had attacked Cecilia had already left. Nonetheless, she and Cyclops had stood by, ready to join him if necessary. leaving only when Beats told them that he had the Doctor, and to make sure that the sickbay was prepped and ready.
Jean had been astonished at the fomerly fiery-tempered doctor's condition and had gently delved into her mind to get a picture of her attacker. All she could make out from the blurry images was a greenish weapon, the outline of a slender build, and a name. One that was familiar, thanks to the numerous talks she had with Quatre. She bit her lip and looked at her husband nervously, unsure of what to say.
:: Just tell them, Jean:: Scott advised her softly. She looked at Heero.
" Her attacker called himself.....Shinigami."
End Part 4C
Mwahahahahaha.....*Stormy chuckles* The plot thickens!!
Notes:
1. Cecila Reese was a member of the X-men for about 5 or 6 issues before being relagated to a supporting character role with minimal appearences. Her mutant power is a bio-filed that kicked up autmatically whenever she was in danger, but she could never figure out how to consciously turn it on or off. Here, I'm giving her a little more control - it takes a little bit but she can will the field into existence, and she can shut it off. The deal with Shinigami''s blade being able to cut through it - well, Sinister's a genius right? he can build all sorts of do-dads on that scythe - why not make it powerful enough to give Shingami and advantage over more mutants? 85% of all mutant powers are bio-kinetic, psionic, or energy-based - it makes sense that Sinister would take that into account when constructing a weapon for Duo.
2. For those about to scream I cheap-shorted Jubilee - hold yer horses! That little by-play served its point - Wufei had mistakenly identified Jubes as his long-dead wife and that freaked him a bit, hence the running from the hangar. But she's not being thrown aside - trust me. We will see more later on.
Comments are greatly appreciated! Flames will be used along with lots and lots of lighter fluid to light my Barbeque!
Stormy
Please send comments to: dingostorm@hotmail.com